(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, harbor or have custody or control of a dog or cat that is three months of age or older within the City of Pleasanton unless the dog or cat is currently vaccinated against rabies by the injection of anti-rabies vaccine by the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
(B) Every owner of a dog or cat immunized against rabies as required herein shall procure a rabies vaccination certification from the veterinarian administering the vaccine. The certificate shall contain the following information:
(1) Owner name, address and telephone number;
(2) The species, sex, age, size (pounds, predominate breed and color of the vaccinated animal;
(3) The vaccine use, producer, expiration date and serial number;
(4) Date vaccinated;
(5) Rabies tag number; and
(6) Veterinarian's signature and license number.
(C) A veterinarian or person under the direct supervision of a veterinarian who vaccinates a dog or cat as required herein shall furnish the owner thereof with a metal tag approve by the Animal Control Officer bearing a number corresponding to the number placed on the certificate and with lettering showing immunization and the year thereof. This tag shall be attached to the properly fitted collar of the dog or cat for which it is issued, and shall be worn at all times in a conspicuous place on the collar.
(D) When a dog, cat or domestic ferret which has caused bite wounds, punctures or lacerations (not scratches from claws) has been reported and identified, the Animal Control Officer or Law Enforcement Officer will place the animal in quarantine until the end of the ten day observation period. The animal must also be quarantined if there is probable cause to believe that it has otherwise exposed a human to rabies. The observation period will begin at the time of exposure. The animal must be placed in a department-licensed quarantine facility specified by the city or in a veterinary clinic and observed at least twice daily. The alternative to quarantining a dog, cat or domestic ferret is to have the animal humanely killed in such a manner that the brain is not damaged and a suitable specimen (head with brain intact or brain) submitted to a department-designated laboratory for rabies testing as specified by the Texas Department of Health.
(E) Animals involved in a biting/scratching incident in which the owner cannot be readily identified or contacted will be impounded. Also, an animal involved in a biting/scratching incident in which the owner cannot produce verification of current rabies vaccination for the animal will be impounded. In these cases, the animal will be humanely killed and a specimen submitted for rabies testing as specified in division (D) of this section.
(F) Every animal implicated in the potential exposure that has rabies or symptoms thereof, or every animal that a person could reasonably suspect as having rabies, shall be humanely killed and a suitable specimen submitted for rabies testing as specified in division (D) of this section.
(G) The owner of any dog or cat that is reported to have rabies or symptoms thereof, or have been exposed to rabies or to have bitten, scratched or otherwise attacked any person or other animal within the city, or that the owner knows or suspects to be rabid or to have attacked an individual, shall submit the animal to the Animal Control Officer for a quarantine period of ten consecutive days at the owner's expense. The ten-day observation period shall begin on the day of the bite or scratch incident. Any such animal must be immediately surrendered to the Animal Control Officer. The owner may choose to have the animal quarantined for the ten-day period at an approved quarantine facility.
(H) In the event the owner of the animal described in division (F) or (G) above refuses to surrender the animal on demand, that action shall constitute a misdemeanor and upon conviction be punishable by a fine.
(I) The owner of an animal quarantined under this section shall pay the quarantine facility the reasonable cost of the quarantine and disposition of the animal, including the charges for preparation and shipment of the animal head or brain, if required, to the nearest Texas Department of Health certified laboratory for rabies testing. If the owner chooses not to pay for quarantine, the animal shall be humanely euthanized and the brain submitted to the Texas Department of Health certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis, at the owner's expense. All quarantine related payment arrangements shall be at the discretion of the individual quarantine facility and the facility shall be responsible for the collection of monies owed.
(J) The following quarantine procedures shall be observed:
(1) Biting, scratching animals and animals suspected of rabies that are placed in confinement for observation must be separated from all other animals in such a manner that there is no possibility of physical contact between animals;
(2) The quarantined animal must be observed at least daily by a person responsible for notifying the Animal Control Officer if clinical signs of rabies are noted;
(3) At the discretion of the Animal Control Officer, the unowned animal may be humanely euthanized for rabies diagnosis prior to the end of the quarantine period;
(4) The Animal Control Officer may require a written agreement by the owner or the custodian at the time of quarantine and the animal may be disposed of according to terms of this agreement; and
(5) If the biting/scratching animal cannot be maintained in secure quarantine or if the owner chooses not to pay for quarantine, the animal shall be humanely euthanized and the brain submitted to a Texas Department of Health certified laboratory for rabies diagnosis, at the owner's expense.
(Ord. 1221, passed 1-3-2002; Ord. 10-1001, passed 2-18-2010) Penalty, see § 92.99